Families of 2 slain activists seek dialogue with DoJ chief

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

The families of two activists who were killed during law enforcement operations in Southern Luzon last March 7 have sought a meeting with Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra.

Human rights group Karapatan said Wednesday the mothers of slain fisherfolk leaders Ariel Evangelista and Anna Mariz Lemita have already sent a letter request to Guevarra.

In their letter, Imelda Evangelista and Rosenda Lemita, mothers of Ariel and Anna, respectively, said that “[n]ais naming ipahayag ang aming pagnanais na makipagdiyalogo at makipagpulong sa inyo hinggil sa imbestigasyon sa nangyari sa aming mga anak noong Marso 7.”

Ariel and Anna, members of the Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwawasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan, were among the nine unarmed activists who were killed last March 7 during operations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against persons who are suspected to have links to the communist terrorist group in Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas.

Guevarra earlier said the nine deaths are already being investigated by the special investigating teams (SIT s) formed by the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right of Life, Liberty and Security of Persons.

“Kaming mga pamilya ay bukas na makipag-usap sa inyong tanggapan para sa interes ng hustisya sa karumal-dumal na pamamaslang sa aming mga anak,” the mothers told Guevarra.

The mothers assured that their families are prepared to do the necessary steps to be able to bring justice for their deaths.

“Hindi lamang ito dahil sa patuloy naming pagmamahal sa kanila, kundi pati na rin sa mga paniniwalang pinanghawakan nila na naging sanhi ng kanilang pagkawala: disente at may dangal na buhay para sa lahat ng mamamayan,” they stated.